What's it like to stay at the most expensive square on the Monopoly board?
As a brand known for chic city abodes and sprawling beach resorts, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is not a company we would usually bill as boutique. Yet its London property on the edge of upmarket Mayfair is small, stylish and sophisticated.
Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane sits on the site of the original Four Seasons Inn on the Park, the company's first European hotel which opened in 1970. In the half-decade since, the property has undergone many marvellous changes, including a facelift in 2010 by renowned hotel designer Pierre-Yves Rochon and a recently awarded MICHELIN Star for the on-site restaurant Pavyllon.
The property is small by central London standards, offering 196 guest rooms and 43 suites over 11 stories. What it lacks in size, however, it makes up for in service, with a superb team ready to assist with any whim that guests may have.
Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane is a five-star establishment blending modern elegance with traditional British hospitality, offering a sanctuary of comfort in the heart of the city. The hotel boasts a timeless design inspired by the golden age of travel, and the arrival experience oozes old-world glamour. The lobby is a masterclass in understated luxury, with dark marble, crimson upholstery, equestrian elements and a stunning floral display that changes with the seasons.
Luxurious Living
Designed by Tara Bernerd and Partners, the rooms and suites at Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane continue the brand's commitment to providing comfort and style. Each room is designed with a beautiful balance of modernity and tradition, featuring bespoke furniture, rich fabrics, and a calming colour palette. The large windows allow natural light to flood in, highlighting the exquisite details and offering views of the London skyline or the lush greenery of Hyde Park.
The beds are dressed in the finest linens, promising a restful night's sleep, while the bathrooms offer deep soaking tubs, rainfall showers, extensive marble and luxurious amenities by Floris London amenities. Technology seamlessly integrates into the room's design, with intuitive touch-screen controls for lighting and climate, high-speed Wi-Fi, and a state-of-the-art entertainment system. Whether you're staying in a standard room or one of the lavish suites, you'll find that every aspect of the accommodation is tailored to ensure a comfortable stay. Our Executive Conservatories Suite on the second floor benefited from an expansive outdoor terrace (a rarity in London), Sycamore panels with gold wall coverings, and separate sleeping and living areas.
Debonaire Dining
With enough MICHELIN Stars to form a constellation, Chef Yannick Alléno's London debut is the hotel's day-to-night dining destination: Pavyllon. Following successful openings in Paris and Monte Carlo, Pavyllon London boasts a modern, minimalist décor and counter seating for up to 30 guests facing the busy open kitchen. Designed by Chahan Minassian, the interiors are warm and inviting, evoking the feeling of a chic Parisian residence through the use of lacquered panelling, mohair velvets, woven silk textiles, and hand-blown Murano chandeliers.
While the restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner to a clientele of high-end hotel guests and well-heeled Mayfair residents, we'd suggest the latter for an evening of French haute-cuisine, where dishes draw inspiration from British seasonal produce and French culinary techniques. The four-course Mayfair Tasting Menu or six-course Pavyllon Tasting Menu are best explored to fully appreciate this one Michelin-Starred marvel. Just pray that the steamed Cheddar Soufflé veiled with a vibrant watercress coulis and the à la minute Chocolate Soufflé flambéed with Amaretto are on the menu.
A Spa Sanctuary
The hotel's spa and wellness facilities are located on the tenth floor, offering a serene escape from the fast pace of London life. The spa is gender separated, offering a tranquil environment for relaxation and rejuvenation. The nine glass-walled treatment rooms offer an extensive wellness menu featuring a range of therapies that draw on both Eastern and Western traditions. A sauna with a Himalayan salt wall provides skyline views of The Shard. While the Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane may lack a swimming pool, it makes up for the shortfall with a steam room and skylit vitality pools.
The rooftop fitness centre is equally impressive, equipped with state-of-the-art machines and views over the city from Canary Wharf in the east to Big Ben and the London Eye in the west. The hotel also features a stylish multi-use lounge with sweeping views over Hyde Park.
The Verdict
With Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park and Oxford Street on its doorstep, the Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane is all about location, location, location. However, its exceptional service truly sets this property apart from other luxury hotels in London. From the moment you arrive to the moment you depart, every member of staff is committed to ensuring that your stay is as enjoyable as it is memorable. The concierge team is particularly noteworthy, offering insider knowledge of the city and arranging everything from restaurant reservations to bespoke city tours and theatre tickets.
Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane is a London legacy hotel that is classic and quaint rather than lavish and in-your-face. It aspires to attract a mainly Middle Eastern clientele. With attention to detail—from the red-ribbed leather in the lifts to the beautiful breakfast offering—and some of the most personable staff in illustrious London, it offers an urban sanctuary in the most expensive square on the Monopoly board.
GO: Visit www.fourseasons.com for reservations and more information.